Prognosis of intracranial dissection relates to site and presenting features

Abstract

Intracranial arterial dissection is relatively rare and generally considered to have a worse outcome than extracranial arterial dissection. It is a clinically significant entity that can cause severely disabling ischaemic stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Only a few large case series of intracranial arterial dissection have been reported, particularly in the anterior circulation, but it is being increasingly recognized with advances in non-invasive angiographic diagnostic procedures. Patients with posterior circulation dissection appear to present more commonly with SAH and are traditionally said to have a worse outcome. Treatment options remain controversial and include medical ther..